Mickey Mouse and his friends entertain the audience at Shanghai Disney Resort on April 10. TANG YANJUN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

China's theme park sector is transitioning from years of volatile growth into a period of steadier expansion, even as shifting consumer preferences and rising competition reshape the landscape, according to an industry report.

On the same day that Legoland Shanghai Resort officially opened its gates, an upgraded Star World — Nanhu Amusement Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, also debuted to visitors — highlighting a broader wave of investment sweeping across the country.

More than 20 new parks are currently under construction, newly launched, or scheduled to open this year, signaling continued enthusiasm from developers and local governments despite softening attendance growth.

According to the 2024 China theme park competitiveness report, the country was home to 385 theme parks by October 2024, of which 87 were mega-sized or big-sized parks.

The Yangtze River Delta has cemented its status as the nation's "golden belt" for theme parks. The region hosts 19 of the country's big parks — 22 percent of the national total — with Shanghai emerging as a focal point. The city now boasts two major international IPs: Disney and Legoland.

Jinjiang International has announced plans to bring the "Harry Potter Studio Tour" to Shanghai through a partnership with Warner Bros, while a Peppa Pig-themed park is also in the pipeline.

Shanghai Disney Resort, the leading player in the country's themed entertainment market, broke ground in May on a new Spider-Man-themed attraction — its third major expansion since opening in 2016. The Marvel-themed zone will become the park's ninth themed area and follows the additions of Toy Story Land in 2018 and Zootopia in late 2023. This summer, Shanghai Disneyland will also roll out new Pixar-themed offerings, targeting younger families and fans of the animation studio's beloved franchises.

China's theme park industry is now settling into a slower but more sustainable trajectory, another industry report showed.

Market research firm Mintel forecasts that between 2025 and 2029, the sector will enter a phase of moderate, steady growth. In 2024, theme park attendance dipped 1.9 percent, despite a 14.8 percent surge in domestic tourism overall.

This reflects two core pressures: a proliferation of alternative leisure destinations — including museums, outdoor attractions and immersive exhibitions — has diverted foot traffic, while increasingly cautious consumer spending is steering demand toward niche, value-oriented experiences over "big-ticket" attractions, according to Mintel.